By IANS
New Delhi : Accepting the West Bengal government’s request for deployment of central paramilitary forces in Nandigram, the home ministry Saturday sent a battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force to West Bengal. In the past few days, Nandigram has witnessed pitched battles between rival political groups.
A statement released by the ministry said state authorities had been urged to use security forces optimally and especially position personnel who are familiar with the language and terrain to achieve the desired objective of restoring peace and normalcy in the area.
“The home minister, Shivraj Patil, has also spoken to the chief minister of West Bengal and urged him that the state government should take immediate steps to ensure that persons who have been displaced from their homes in the ongoing tension should be helped to return to their villages, and an environment of peace and security be created,” the statement said.
Nandigram has been the scene of recurring clashes since January, when this East Midnapore constituency, about 150 km from Kolkata, flared up over a proposed special economic zone (SEZ), including a chemical hub. As many as 32 people have died in the violence so far.
Sporadic clashes between the rival groups have continued despite the state government’s decision against the setting up of a chemical hub in the area in the face of protests from a section of the people there.
In the latest round of violence that began Tuesday rival groups traded gunfire and hurled bombs.